The Virginia School Efficiency Review Program

Total expenditures for the operations of public elementary and secondary schools includes over $14 billion in state, federal and local money.

The goal of the school efficiency review program is to ensure that non-instructional functions are running
efficiently so that as much of this funding as possible goes directly into the classroom. The program identifies
savings that can be gained in the school division through best practices.

Business practices in the school divisions that appear to be more efficient than those found elsewhere are documented and shared in the review and with other school divisions across the state.

The approach of the school review program is modeled after Texas' protocols administered by that state's Comptroller. Arizona and Oklahoma are also modeling on these procedures, and most recently Minnesota has introduced legislation to begin similar reviews using Virginia's approach.

Virginia first developed the concept for our review program in 2003. Three pilot reviews were completed by Department of Planning and Budget staff in 2004. The program was codified in the Code of Virginia in 2005.

Since 2005, 40 additional reviews have been completed using private sector consultants with oversight
and review provided by the Department of Planning and Budget. To date, school reviews have been completed
in the following school divisions and recommended net savings of the reviews have been significant -
over $42 million total annually and over $987,000 annually per review -- as shown in the following table.

Negative numbers indicate that the efficiency review contained net costs to implement all the suggested recommendations. These reviews include many savings opportunities as well. Since the purpose of the reviews is school efficiency, there are instances where recommendations suggest school divisions spend money in order to become more efficient and effective in delivering services.

What we've achieved.

Local school divisions are implementing the vast majority of the recommendations. The table above reflects
the implementation percentage of past reviews and the total implementation percentage for the program.
As of August 2015, the overall implementation rate of the program is 91%.

What we've learned.

Some divisions may find that not all recommendations can be implemented for a variety of reasons. The reports are intended to generate options for the consideration of locally elected and divisional administration officials.

While the challenges facing school divisions as they attempt to fulfill their core mission are very similar, there are enough differences in funding, community issues, and history to support the assertion that there can be no "one size fits all" solution to these challenges.

This program is gaining national attention as a "best practice." Other states are now modeling programs on Virginia's approach.

Full text versions of all completed reviews are available on the Virginia Department of Education's website at

DPB's Planning, Evaluation, and Regulation division has primary responsibility for strategic planning and performance measurement.
If you have questions about the school review program, please contact Cari Corr at 804-225-4549 or cari.corr@dpb.virginia.gov